Families vacate condemned house in Webster

WEBSTER — The two families living in 60 School St., a three-unit building that was condemned for a host of reasons, have vacated, Town Administrator John F. McAuliffe said Wednesday.

The town will pay for up to four nights' lodging for the displaced families, as it has done in similar situations, Mr. McAuliffe said.

On Tuesday, building and health officials went to the building because of a complaint that it lacked hot water.

The officials said they discovered that a fuel oil leak in the basement had contaminated the grounds and caused fumes to enter an apartment.

Also cited in the condemnation order were the absence of available hot water; temporary wiring throughout the building; a rotting and deteriorating floor at the entry of the building; exits and egresses blocked by debris, making it a fire hazard; and no working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

The state Department of Environmental Protection is instructing building owner Robert J. Marino of Uxbridge on whom to contact to clean up the basement, officials said.

Mr. Marino could not be reached for a comment Wednesday.

According to the town, oil had spilled onto the dirt floor of the basement, and when the water table rose, this created a water and oil sheen that looked like a large spill, along with a "horrible" odor.

The Board of Health had posted an emergency condemnation meeting for today, but it was canceled because of the condemnation action taken by Building Inspector Theodore Tetreault III.

The building is being marketed for sale on various real estate websites.